Slaying the field: Killers guitarist Dave Kreuning pulls some moves on the Pyramid Stage. Photograph: Martin Godwin
1. We used Paul McCartney's pyrotechnics guy
We basically said let's do something special and big for Glastonbury so we got in touch with the same people who did the pyrotechnics for McCartney when he headlined the Saturday night in 2004.
2. We were forced to open with all the fireworks
They were originally scheduled for the whole show but at the last minute we realised there was some regulation signed in 2003 that banned us from using them after 11pm. That forced us to frontload the show with a huge bunch of fucking fireworks!
3. It nearly all went wrong
The subwoofers cut out right before we went onstage. We thought it was all going to go tits up from there but we ended up biting the sheets and going out there and doing our thing. We just melted into it.
4. We wanted to play more songs
We had to check with security and event organisers if we could play any more but they said that 50,000 bunch were leaving and if we started up again it'd be dangerous if they'd turn around and hurt people rushing back to the stage.
5. When You Were Young felt the best
Normally it's the first song that feels the best, when you go onstage. But we were so worried about sound problems that this, the third song, ended up being our favourite. It felt like everybody in the audience was performing that song, not just us. It was really magical.
